Lesson 24

A Practical Path To Spiritual Maturity

I Peter 5:5-7

We have the privilege, each time we assemble to give our attention to God's precious Word. It is important that we become learners so that we will know God better and so that we can know His commandments for us. Today is know exception. So let's open our Bibles to I Peter 5:5-7.

This is the closing section of Peter's letter. Having spoken directly and specifically to the pastors (5:1-4), Peter now turns his attention toward all the Christians - "all of you" (v. 5).

What is contained in these verses is a series of staccato like imperatives. In fact, from verses 5-14 there are 10 commands. These commands are very basic to the Christian life. Here is a list of fundamental attitudes that will lead to spiritual maturity.

I have discovered that in most areas of life, the key to success is simply knowing the fundamentals. It's that way in music. I took piano lessons as a boy. I'm thankful, at this point in my life, to have had piano. I'm glad I can read music. But, in spite of my grandmother's dreams for my life (she use to try to tempt me to practice by telling me that the piano player on the Lawrence Welk show made $150 per show) I will never be a great pianist because, like most boys, I'd rather play baseball than practice the scales. Getting me to practice was like pulling teeth. I recently read that Van Klyburn, a world famous concert pianist still spends hours a day just practicing scales. It's the same way in athletics. The greatest athletes continue to work on the fundamentals of the game.

It's also true in the spiritual dimension. One does not just wake up one day as a wise Christian or as a profound teacher or suddenly skilled in ministry. It is a matter of constantly practicing the fundamentals of the Christian life. And the stuff in Peter's list are just so basic. It's amazing to me, that Peter would end his letter with such a basic list of commandments.

I notice also that this list consists of attitudes. The Bible says, (Proverbs 23:7) "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." We are, not what we eat, but what we think. How we think, the motives of our heart and mind, profoundly affects our responses and behaviors. The Bible calls us to constantly renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2) and to righteous thinking habit (Philippians 4:8). If we want to do what is right, we must begin by thinking right.

And so, Peter ends his first epistle with a list of commands that are fundamental attitudes for spiritual maturity. Here, then, Peter points the way to a practical path that will lead to spiritual maturity.

An Attitude Of Submission, 5:5a-b.

Those who are younger are explicitly instructed to submit themselves to the elder. Elder, in the first four verses, refers to the pastor. Here then is a call for submission to the pastoral leadership in the local church. Peter addresses this to those who are young (age / in the Lord) perhaps because these are the ones who struggle the most with submission. The young tend to be the most aggressive, most ambitious, most opinionated, most headstrong, the most proud. But then Peter enlarges the command to include all, 5b.

The command is clear "submit yourself unto the elder." There is to be respect, honor and deference to pastors. This theme is throughout the New Testament. I Corinthians 16:15-16 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. I Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 24 Salute all them that have the rule over you...

I have absolutely no personal agenda here. This is the Bible! We are in I Peter 5 and it says to submit to church leaders. There are wonderful blessings and benefits that come from submission. By submitting, we link together the wisdom, experience and authority of the leader with our willing spirit. This is not saying that leaders are perfect and always right. But a Christian is commanded to have an attitude of submission to leaders who are imperfect. Spiritual maturity always calls for an attitude of submission.

An Attitude Of Humility, 5:5c-6.

These first two attitudes (submission and humility) are Siamese twins. Submission attacks our self pride and humility attacks our self love.

According to Peter, humility is a one-size-fits-all garment. Peter tells us all to be "clothed with humility." This word for "clothe" is actually a very specific Greek word that means "to tie something on yourself with a knot or bow" and thus alludes to the apron of servant or slave. He is speaking about putting on the humble attitude of a servant. Perhaps Peter is remembering when Jesus girded Himself in a towel and demonstrated the humble attitude of a servant by washing His disciples feet, John 13:1ff.

Humility is not regarded as a virtue in a pagan world. Not then. Not now. In a pagan world, a humble person is regarded as a wimp or weakling. Pagans glorify the macho.

Specifically, Peter tells us that are to humble toward each other, v. 5. The reason that Peter gives is a quotation from Proverbs 3:34. God resists the proud. God hates pride and arrogance, Proverbs 6:16; 8:13. God gives grace (blesses) humility, Isaiah 57:15; 66:2.

In verse 6, Peter also says that we are to humble toward God. What does he mean when he says, under the mighty hand of God? That phrase is found numerous times in the Bible. But it refers to different things. Sometimes it refers to deliverance (Exodus 3:19-20) and protection. Sometimes it refers to chastisement (Job 30:20-21). Sometimes it refers to testing and trials (Ezekiel 20:33, 27-28). The Christians to whom Peter was writing could relate to that. If you put it all together, you discover that the mighty hand of God refers to God's sovereignty over our lives - how that through the circumstances of life God is sovereignly in control - delivering, or chastening or testing us. We are to submit to His sovereignty. We should not question or argue or debate with God about what happens to us. We are humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. He will exalt us at the proper time.

An Attitude Of Trust, 5:7.

Fundamental to the Christian life is faith and confidence in a caring God. Peter tells us cast our cares upon the Lord, the way a blanket is cast over a horse or donkey, Luke 19:35.

We must learn to give our cares over to Jesus. Every discouragement, every anxiety, every distress, every worry, every pain, every concern, every burden. Release it to the Lord. We have the tendency of giving those things to God and then picking them up again for ourselves. The cares of life are hard to let go. But that's exactly what we are commanded to do. Remember Hannah? Her care was her bareness. She wanted a son. She was deeply distressed but gave it completely to God, see I Samuel 1:10-18.

That's what we are suppose to do. And we do that because God cares for you. Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Matthew 6:25-26 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Peter's list of fundamental attitudes for spiritual growth begins with these three...

An attitude of submission

An attitude of humility

An attitude of trust in God.

Peter's list is going to get longer. But we will reserve that for next time.

We would all do well today to pause and ponder these first three attitudes. There is much right here to think about, to pray about, to apply to our own lives. Would you today ask the Spirit to speak to you about your attitudes? Are you headstrong and having a hard time with submission? Do you battle pride and selfishness? Do you tend to not release your concerns to God?

Talk to God about it. Get it right with God.